US4078688A - Container closure - Google Patents

Container closure Download PDF

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Publication number
US4078688A
US4078688A US05/764,563 US76456377A US4078688A US 4078688 A US4078688 A US 4078688A US 76456377 A US76456377 A US 76456377A US 4078688 A US4078688 A US 4078688A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cap device
container
neck
groove
sealing ring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/764,563
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ingvar Erling Nilsson
Lars Harald Nystrom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Pak Developpement SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Pak Developpement SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetra Pak Developpement SA filed Critical Tetra Pak Developpement SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4078688A publication Critical patent/US4078688A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D39/04—Cup-shaped plugs or like hollow flanged members
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S215/00—Bottles and jars
    • Y10S215/01—Fins

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container closure comprising a container opening with a neck projecting inwards and a cap device, closing the container opening, with a tubular part that can be inserted into the container opening, the tubular part as well as the container opening being shaped so that against the effect of an internal pressure in the container the cap device is retained in sealing engagement with the container opening.
  • Caps of the abovementioned type are manufactured of plastic material and are used e.g. in plastic bottles for beer and aerated refreshing drinks.
  • the cap device comprises an annular recess arranged at its lower end for the mechanical retaining of the cap in the container opening, and a number of sealing elements arranged at a distance above the recess to form a seal in contact with the upper part of the inward-projecting neck or edge of the container.
  • This type of cap has in its use up to now together with bottles of rigid and dimensionally relatively stable plastic material proved to comply satisfactorily with the demands made upon it, that is to say on the one hand that it should be able to withstand mechanical stresses during handling and stacking of the containers without the cap becoming loose or untight, and that the seal should be sufficiently good for the cap to prevent any leakage of the contents, whether in liquid or gaseous form, even on prolonged storage of the filled container and in the presence of an appreciable internal pressure in the container.
  • a container closure of the type described in the introduction has been given the characteristic that the inward-projecting neck of the container opening has an inner surface which is conically tapered downwards and which at the lower end of the neck cuts the lower end surface of the neck under an acute angle, whereby the annular line of intersection or edge formed is arranged so that it engages with a groove in the tubular part of the cap device, so that by resting against the lower boundary surface of the groove it retains the cap device in the container opening, whilst the inner surface of the neck, in an annular region situated a little above the edge, is arranged to provide a sealing closure for the container by resting against a lip-shaped sealing ring situated at the upper boundary surface of the groove.
  • the compression forces deriving from the cap device, acting upon the packing container will be concentrated on an annular portion at the lower end of the edge or neck projecting inwards. This is advantageous, since this portion is considerably less sensitive to the action than the upper part of the inward-projecting neck.
  • Under the action of pressurized contents present in the packing container which endeavour to press the cap device out of the annular neck portion, which is acted upon by the forces deriving from the sealing ring of the cap device, will, owing to the co-operation between the lower edge of the neck and the groove of the cap, be further stabilized and be prevented from expanding.
  • the lip-shaped sealing ring situated at the upper boundary edge of the groove is relatively thin and yielding and will owing to the special insertion movement, determined by the shape of the container closure, after completed fitting of the cap, be folded downwards, as a result of which the pressure between lip-shaped sealing ring and the surface of the neck projecting inwards will increase because of the internal pressure in the container. Finally the co-operating shaping of the lower end of the inward-projecting neck and the lower boundary edge of the groove will retain the cap device in the container opening and further increase the sealing effect if the cap by internal or external forces tends to move upwards out of the container opening.
  • This self-locking effect can be maximized without any disadvantage, since a lower part of the cap device, after fitting of the cap, is intended never to leave the container opening. Instead the container is opened by removing the upper part of the cap device along a weakening provided in the material.
  • FIG. 1. shows a cap device of a known type before insertion into a container opening.
  • FIG. 2 shows the cap device in accordance with FIG. 1 after insertion into the container opening.
  • FIG. 3 shows a cap device in accordance with the invention before insertion into the container opening
  • FIG. 4 shows the cap device in accordance with the invention in position in the container opening after fitting the cap onto the container.
  • FIG. 5 shows a modified cap device similar to that shown in FIG. 3.
  • the container closure in accordance with the invention has many similarities in shape as well as construction with the known device shown (FIGS. 1 and 2).
  • the container closures thus both comprise a cap device 1 which is intended to be inserted into and to close a container opening.
  • the cap device 1 comprises an upper part or a lid 2 and a lower, tubular part 3.
  • the lid 2 which is connected via a breakable connection 4 in a liquid and gas tight manner to the tubular part 3 is provided on its periphery with a pull-handle not shown on the drawing.
  • the tubular part 3 is provided at its upper end with a flange 5 extending outwards which is arranged so that it limits the distance over which the cap device is to be inserted into the container opening.
  • a flange 5 Directly below the flange 5 the tubular part of the cap is provided with sealing elements in the form of two sealing rings 6, 7 situated close to one another (FIGS. 1, 2).
  • the tubular part 3 of the cap has an annular recess 8 which has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.
  • the tubular part 3 of the cap on its lower end has an entering surface 9 in the form of a truncated cone.
  • FIG. 2 a cap device in accordance with FIG. 1 in position in a container opening.
  • an upper part 10 is shown which is specially shaped so as to co-operate with the cap device and which comprises an edge or neck 11 folded inwards, at the lower end of which is arranged a flange 12 directed inwards which defines the neck opening.
  • the flange 12 engages into the circumferential recess 8 in the tubular part 3 of the cap and prevents any moving of the cap device out of the container opening because of internal pressure or for some other reason.
  • the figure also shows how the flange 5 arranged at the upper end of the tubular part 3 of the cap serves to limit the distance over which the cap device 1 is to be inserted into the container opening.
  • the two sealing rings 6, 7, located between the flange 5 and the recess 8 are in sealing engagement with the surface of the folded-in part of the neck. Since the cap device 1 is made of a relatively soft plastic material, and since the sealing rings 6, 7 are relatively thin and resilient, they are bent upwards on insertion of the cap device into the container opening, as can be seen from the drawing.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 As the container closure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for the closing of a packing container made of a material with a tendency to cold flow or creep, this means, as mentioned previously, that the container closure after a certain period of storage commences to leak. This has been found to depend on that force, which is required to make the sealing rings 6, 7 rest in a satisfactory manner against the surface of the folded-in part of the neck 11, is sufficiently great to produce an expansion of the container opening.
  • the cap device in accordance with the invention is shown before insertion into the container opening in FIG. 3, and fitted in a container opening in FIG. 4.
  • the cap device in accordance with the invention comprises like the known cap device an upper lid part 2, a lower tubular part 3 and an annular breakable connecting place 4.
  • On the upper end of the tubular part 3 of the cap we find again the flange 5 which here too serves to fix the position of the cap device 1 in the container opening.
  • the tubular part 3 of the cap has a relatively long cylindrical surface 13 at the lower end of which is arranged a circumferential groove 14.
  • the lower end of the cap part 3 is terminated by the entering part 9.
  • the cap device in accordance with the invention thus lacks the two sealing rings 6, 7.
  • the lower part situated at the groove 14 is instead given both a retaining and a sealing function.
  • the groove 14 has been given a substantially dove-tailed cross-section with a sealing ring 15 of triangular cross-section arranged at the upper, outer boundary surface of the groove 14, and a lower boundary surface 16 which is comparatively strong and unyielding and is inclined slightly inwards towards the base of the groove 14.
  • the neck part 11 of the packing container has been given a somewhat different shape in that the flange has been eliminated.
  • the folded-in part of the neck has been given a material thickness which evenly increases towards the lower end and is shaped with a conical inner surface 17.
  • the neck is terminated at its lower end by a conical end surface 18 which where it meets the inner surface 17 forms a comparatively sharp annular meeting line or edge.
  • the cap device 1 is in its position where it closes the container and the edge situated at the lower end of the inward-projecting neck 11 of the packing container is in engagement with the groove 14.
  • the sealing ring 15 situated at the upper boundary area of the groove 14 rests against the surface of the inward-folded neck 11 directly above the annular edge and it should be observed that the resilient sealing ring 15 is folded down-wards.
  • the cap device in the first place is pressed past the ultimate position. During this pressing down the sealing ring 15, owing to the shaping of the lower end of the cap, has no contact with the inward-projecting part 11 of the neck.
  • the entering surface 9 When the cap device 1 is inserted into the container opening, the entering surface 9 will first come into contact with the upper edge portion of the inward-projecting neck 11. Since the cap device as well as the packing container are manufactured from material which is somewhat flexible, the entering surface 9 can during the continued pressing down of the cap device expand the container opening a little at the same time as the tubular part 3 of the cap is compressed. This makes it possible for the widest portion of the tubular part 3 of the cap to pass the part of the container opening which has the smallest diameter, i.e. the lower end of the neck part 11.
  • the positioning of the lip shaped sealing ring 15 directly at the edge of the inclined upper boundary area of the groove 14 is of great importance as it makes the sealing ring very yieldable so that the correct downwards folding of the sealing ring into the groove is ensured when the cap device is mounted in the container opening.
  • the lower edge surface 16 of the groove 14 is shaped appropriately with a slight incline inwards towards the base of the groove 14, which helps in ensuring the engagement of the neck end in the groove. However, even if the edge surface 16 is shaped without any incline inwards, the lower end of the neck 11 will be retained in the groove 14 because of the springiness inherent in the material and the incline of the lower surface 18.
  • the cap device can be provided with a further sealing ring 19 which should then be arranged on the surface 13 in the direct vicinity or at a little distance above the sealing ring 15 as shown in FIG. 5.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
US05/764,563 1976-02-04 1977-02-01 Container closure Expired - Lifetime US4078688A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE7601177A SE410957B (sv) 1976-02-04 1976-02-04 Behallarforslutning
SW7601177 1976-02-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4078688A true US4078688A (en) 1978-03-14

Family

ID=20326896

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/764,563 Expired - Lifetime US4078688A (en) 1976-02-04 1977-02-01 Container closure

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (1) US4078688A (de)
JP (1) JPS5296186A (de)
AU (1) AU508468B2 (de)
BE (1) BE851127A (de)
CA (1) CA1098486A (de)
CH (1) CH610850A5 (de)
DE (1) DE2704454C2 (de)
FR (1) FR2351871A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1535708A (de)
IT (1) IT1078387B (de)
NL (1) NL7700746A (de)
SE (1) SE410957B (de)
SU (1) SU710512A3 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4438864A (en) * 1982-06-09 1984-03-27 Container Corporation Of America Tamperproof closure
US5947318A (en) * 1997-02-24 1999-09-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Opening device for packages of pourable food products
US6477823B1 (en) 1998-07-30 2002-11-12 Kerr Group, Inc. Closure and container system for hot filled containers
US20020179605A1 (en) * 2001-05-29 2002-12-05 Claudia Miani Closable opening device for sealed packages of pourable food products
US20050236425A1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2005-10-27 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Closable opening device for packages of pourable food products
US20080053950A1 (en) * 2004-06-02 2008-03-06 Jurgen Soldan Closing Element

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2138384A (en) * 1983-04-21 1984-10-24 Hop Hing Oil Factory Ltd Container closure
JPH0427810Y2 (de) * 1986-06-13 1992-07-03
GB8823893D0 (en) * 1988-10-12 1988-11-16 Metal Box Plc Non-refillable pourer fitment
FR2686859A1 (fr) * 1992-01-31 1993-08-06 Bretagne Sa Moulage Procede de remplissage d'un pot, en particulier pour cosmetiques, et pot pour sa mise en óoeuvre.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3251499A (en) * 1964-07-02 1966-05-17 Rausing Closure means for a container with an opening
US3317070A (en) * 1964-12-28 1967-05-02 Rausing Cap
US3415405A (en) * 1965-11-09 1968-12-10 Sobrefina Sa Cap

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1465604C3 (de) * 1964-06-13 1974-02-14 Elektrotechnische Industrie Gustav Giersiepen, 5608 Radevormwald Elektrisches Installationsschaltgerät
CH426529A (de) * 1964-12-04 1966-12-15 Tepar Ag Behälter mit Öffnung und einem Verschluss
CH442055A (de) * 1964-12-28 1967-08-15 Ruben Rausing Anders Behälter mit Verschluss
FR1450665A (fr) * 1965-07-02 1966-06-24 Dispositif de fermeture pour récipients
FR1461294A (fr) * 1965-12-24 1966-03-04 Rausing Anders Ruben Dispositif de fermeture pour récipient
FR1471711A (fr) * 1966-03-18 1967-03-03 Bouchon pour récipient
SE369402B (de) * 1973-04-19 1974-08-26 Rigello Pak Ab

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3251499A (en) * 1964-07-02 1966-05-17 Rausing Closure means for a container with an opening
US3317070A (en) * 1964-12-28 1967-05-02 Rausing Cap
US3348719A (en) * 1964-12-28 1967-10-24 Tetra Pak Rausing & Co K G Closure means
US3415405A (en) * 1965-11-09 1968-12-10 Sobrefina Sa Cap

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4438864A (en) * 1982-06-09 1984-03-27 Container Corporation Of America Tamperproof closure
US5947318A (en) * 1997-02-24 1999-09-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Opening device for packages of pourable food products
US6477823B1 (en) 1998-07-30 2002-11-12 Kerr Group, Inc. Closure and container system for hot filled containers
US20020179605A1 (en) * 2001-05-29 2002-12-05 Claudia Miani Closable opening device for sealed packages of pourable food products
US6820764B2 (en) 2001-05-29 2004-11-23 Tetra Laval Holdings & 'finance Sa Closable opening device for sealed packages of pourable food products
US20050236425A1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2005-10-27 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Closable opening device for packages of pourable food products
US7484641B2 (en) 2002-09-09 2009-02-03 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Closable opening device for packages of pourable food products
US20080053950A1 (en) * 2004-06-02 2008-03-06 Jurgen Soldan Closing Element

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5296186A (en) 1977-08-12
BE851127A (fr) 1977-05-31
AU2186877A (en) 1978-08-10
NL7700746A (nl) 1977-08-08
DE2704454A1 (de) 1977-08-11
GB1535708A (en) 1978-12-13
FR2351871A1 (fr) 1977-12-16
AU508468B2 (en) 1980-03-20
IT1078387B (it) 1985-05-08
SE410957B (sv) 1979-11-19
JPS5713470B2 (de) 1982-03-17
CA1098486A (en) 1981-03-31
CH610850A5 (de) 1979-05-15
DE2704454C2 (de) 1983-04-07
SU710512A3 (ru) 1980-01-15
SE7601177L (sv) 1977-08-05
FR2351871B1 (de) 1983-05-20

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